Which Lacrosse Position Is Best For You?
We’re proud that our GameBreaker Lacrosse Camps are open to lax players of all ages and abilities. Wanting to improve your lax game – both on and off the field – isn’t something just one type of player does! Whether you’re a beginner or a four-year varsity starter in high school, we guarantee that our top-notch coaching staffs – especially the one at our New Jersey Lacrosse Camp location – will find a way to help you improve your game before heading home for the remainder of summer.
But if you’re a beginner lacrosse player and you’re trying to get your feet underneath you before hitting the field with regularity, there are a few things you need to figure out. Probably the most important thing of all to consider is what position might be the best fit for you. Better yet, it’s good to just learn what all the possible positions are that you can play and then figure out which could work out the best once you start logging minutes and drills on a consistent basis.
Below are the five different positions you could play on a lacrosse field and a short description about each.
Lacrosse Positions
Attacker
Not surprisingly, attackers are players who are typically on offense and are considered the most consistent goal scorers for any lax team. A common characteristic among successful attackers is that they possess elite stick handling skills and the kind of mindset that’s not afraid to be right in the middle of the action.
Defender
Once again, the main job of a defender isn’t hard to figure out – they’re the last line of defense before an opposing team tries to get a ball in the back of the net of the goalie. Defenders also like to be in the middle of all the action and be an enforcer. Defenders are typically bigger and don’t have stick skills as advanced as attackers, but their aggressiveness is what’s most important.
Midfield
Middies need to have excellent stick skills – probably on the same level as attackers – but their most important quality is having the endurance to run for as long as possible. This group of players sets everything up on either side of the field, so you have to get there without being completely tired while also having the ability to pass the ball effectively to your teammates.
Goalie
Many people assume goalies don’t have as much athletic ability as the other athletes on their team, but that’s just not true. In fact, it’s actually the opposite – being nimble and quick is vital toward being a good goalie. Stick skills aren’t as important, but you must be fearless in sacrificing your body to get in the way of shots to prevent them from reaching the back of the net.
FOGO
If you’re very quick on the draw, then the FOGO position may be a good fit for you, which means Face Off and Get Out, which is literally the only job for this particular position. This seems like a small role but winning a faceoff consistently can easily be the difference between a win and a loss. This is by far the most specialized position on the lacrosse field.
